The Lord’s Supper
This chapter taken from the book When Faith Came by Franklin Whittenburg © 1998-2006
Now I want to address another major error in the way that the churches today are explaining communion. I want to show you the meaning of “discerning the Lord’s body”.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:29-32 KJV).
First we have to “define” the Lord’s body before we can “discern” the Lord’s body. What is the Lord’s body? The Lord’s body is not just the whole congregation, but the individual Christians physical body also! All of this study can also be applied to the church body as a whole, but I want to mainly focus on the individual believer.
What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19,20 KJV).
What you have in the physical body is not the “sinful flesh” that needs destroyed. That is plainly taught in the Bible to be the flesh of the heart (I will). When Paul used the word “vile” to describe the mortal body in Philippians 3:21 KJV, he was not describing the physical body as filthy or an abomination. The word “vile” used in that verse is translated from “tapeinosis” in the Greek. It simple means “humbled”, as in “made lower than the angels” or inferior to angelic bodies in immortality.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9 KJV).
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3 KJV).
Jesus didn’t come in “sinful flesh” but in “the likeness of sinful flesh”. The “likeness of sinful flesh” that Jesus came in was the ability to act out of unity with God, but he never exercised that option (I will) and was always in strict obedience to the Father. God is a Trinity, three separate persons in perfect unity (John 17:22) (Genesis 1:26)(1 John 5:7)(Colossians 2:9).
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I WILL, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:38,39 KJV).
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14,15 KJV).
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (James 1:13 KJV).
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:16-18 KJV).
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:7,8 KJV).
Paul also explained the “sinful flesh” as his personal will (I will) and the ability to act independent of God.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (Romans 7:17,18 KJV).
The physical body of the Christian is not the source of sin as Paul plainly taught. It just gets the blame for the sin.
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV).
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (Mark 7:20,21 KJV).
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:10,11 KJV).
What condition is the physical body of the Christian in which the Bible says now belongs to God?
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22 KJV).
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV).
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied (Jude 1,2 KJV).
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV).
For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14 KJV).
As you can see by the verses you just read, we are sanctified in the Lord Jesus and not by our works. These scriptures stand in contradiction to the “we must grow in our sanctification” doctrine that some pastors preach.
In this study, I want to stop and straighten out a mix up that I believe that goes on in the church today. Once again it is self-condemnation that is the culprit, but instead of rejecting it, the church has embraced it in the Lord’s Supper! To straighten this mess out we have to go all the way back to the Garden of Eden to find out who really has the right to judge good and evil, God or us.
You need to understand that man was created with the freedom of choice (freewill), but not the knowledge of good and evil (free moral agent). Before Adam ate of the tree, everything that God created was good. After eating of the tree then everything good that God created for Adam, he considered bad including himself (nudity). Nothing else changed except Adam’s perception of God’s good creation. Eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is where man received the “ability to judge”, but not the “right to judge”, including himself, as Paul taught!
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-5 KJV).
The knowledge of good and evil was reserved for God alone, like God told Adam. In fact, whenever man does exercise the ability to judge good and evil (free moral agent), God declared man a god.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken (Genesis 3:22,23 KJV).
There is a big difference between “freewill” and “free moral agent”. This is where everybody misses this when studying freewill doctrine. Man was created with “freewill”, but man was not created with “morals”. Man attained “morals” by eating of the tree that God commanded him not to. Today, man still runs around with the knowledge of good and evil while proudly proclaiming that he is a “free moral agent”, but actually the only thing that a “free moral agent” is free from is God and eternal life. Mankind does not seem to understand that Heaven can only have one God.
The knowledge of good and evil has never brought man wisdom like Satan told Eve. All that the knowledge of good and evil has ever brought man is death (through self-condemnation) like God told Adam! But since we are stuck with this knowledge of good and evil, thanks to Adam, then we need to understand it’s correct usage.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4,5 KJV).
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: (Genesis 3:22 KJV).
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16,17 KJV).
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 KJV).
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:9-11 KJV).
The sad state that natural man now finds himself in through self-condemnation because of the knowledge of good and evil, Jesus Christ reversed in the true believer.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemed any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother were grieved with thy meat, now walks thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:14-23 KJV).
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33,34 KJV).
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God (1 John 3:20,21 KJV).
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled (Titus 1:15 KJV).
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22 KJV).
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first (old) testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:14,15 KJV).
Remember that it is your self-condemnation through the knowledge of good and evil that actually separates you from the source of life, which is God and keeps you out of the Garden of Eden. Before Adam had this knowledge of good and evil, he was at peace with himself and at peace with God, which is exactly what the Gospel of Peace now brings to mankind!
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in YOUR mind by wicked works, yet NOW hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable (unconvictable) in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
As you can see by this verse, sin doesn’t cause God to hide from you, but it causes you to hide from God, just like Adam in the Garden of Eden.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat (Genesis 3:6-11 KJV)?
Now that Adam judged himself naked, God made him a coat of skin as a covering so Adam couldn’t see his own nakedness. Adam was created by God in the flesh and naked without shame standing before God in full relationship. Once Adam’s conscience awoke he then judged himself unworthy of God’s presence and the body of flesh that God created pure was now considered by Adam to be defiled. I saw this very same scenario take place one time at a swimming pool. A young child came out of the house and ran to the pool to go swimming totally naked. He was very excited and happy about getting to go swimming. Someone stopped him and told him that he shouldn’t be outside naked and told him to go inside and have his mother put him on some shorts. The little boy then covered himself with his hands and ran back inside the house to get some clothing. Innocence was lost and the child now had shame. This story is not a condemnation of that person that corrected the boy because sooner or later someone else would have taught the child that his body that God created for him was shameful. The Bible teaches that we are to become again as children to enter into the Kingdom of God.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3 KJV).
Peter was even rebuked by God for making the same judgment about God’s creation being unclean!
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life (Acts 11:1-17 KJV).
I was listening to a radio preacher driving home from work one day and he was talking about the low cut pants and shirts that many girls are wearing today that showed part of the stomach or chest. He said that it was “just disgusting” what girls were wearing today. I asked myself a question. How do you explain to these girls that their physical bodies are disgusting, filthy, and nasty creations of God? Once again thanks to Adam, the world has self-judgment, but what kind of damage has this self-condemnation done to the physical body? I think I know why the physical body sometimes, but not always experiences many diseases and death. The solution I believe can be found also in the Lord’s Supper.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:29-32 KJV).
As we can see in this verse, the Bible says that we must “discern” the Lord’s body. Once again, what then is the Lord’s body?
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:15-20 KJV).
What these scriptures teach is that your body now belongs to God and it has become God’s temple. What is the condition of the temple of the body? Because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, your physical body, which is His temple, has been cleansed and sanctified.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV).
For by ONE offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14 KJV).
When we drink the cup of communion we are agreeing that it is the blood of Jesus and not our own works whereby we are cleansed.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28 KJV).
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of FAITH, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:17-22 KJV).
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by FAITH (Acts 15:8,9 KJV).
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:5,6 KJV).
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3 KJV).
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean (John13:4-11 KJV).
See this is where the Pharisee’s couldn’t understand why the disciples of Jesus could eat with unwashed hands in contradiction to the tradition of the Jewish elders.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also (Matthew 23:25,26 KJV).
As you can tell by these verses, our bodies are now the Lord’s, which He has cleansed with His blood and Word and we are now His temple. What happens then when we judge God’s temple, which is now our physical bodies, unworthy and defiled even though the Word says they have been washed clean forever (Hebrews 10:14) by Jesus? God says He will destroy that temple!
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:16,17 KJV).
Through self-condemnation, do you know how mixed up this world has gotten? In the church today, many are telling God, His temple (our bodies) is defiled and must be destroyed and God is telling them that His temple (our bodies) has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus His Son (John 3:16)!
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27 KJV).
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV).
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you (Acts 13:38-41 KJV).
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:44-46 KJV).
Now after studying these verses, lets go back and take another look at the scripture explaining the Lord’s Supper.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:29-32 KJV).
This is just a theory that I have but I will share it anyway. The reason I think that there is so much breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer or other diseases in the world today is because the world has told women and men to consider these parts of their bodies defiled or dirty. If they do this, whether they know it or not, they are asking God to destroy this part of His temple. Believe it or not but these parts of the body are part of God’s “good” creation also. This is where the Christian steps in and shows how Jesus Christ has cleansed the temple top to bottom, we just have to come to that realization through the Holy Spirit. This is the cleansing of the conscience.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean (Romans 14:14 KJV).
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (Acts 26:15-18 KJV).
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled (Titus 1:15 KJV).
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:22,23 KJV).
The Bible also says that a divided house shall not stand, but I also believe a divided person shall not stand either. Because of the knowledge of good and evil man can now argue with himself. He has become divided. Here lies a trap of Satan. What Satan does now is get someone to hate himself or herself. Jesus said:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30,31 KJV).
Paul later reaffirmed this.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Galatians 5:13,14 KJV).
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:29,30 KJV).
People that consider themselves overweight or ugly are real susceptible to this type of self-condemnation of their physical body, especially woman. They may hate their bodies for the appearance only, but what happens in their mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is one half of that person is telling the other half of themselves that they are ugly or fat and must be destroyed. This starts then a process called self-destruction. There is also a big difference between hating your life, and hating yourself. You can hate the life that you may be trapped in, without hating yourself. What I am talking about is NOT referring to loving yourself out of vanity (2 Timothy 3:2), but finally realizing you are a cherished creation of God. Religion teaches that mankind will always be defective until the day he dies, which I think is the actual penalty of living a life of defectiveness. I disagree, through Jesus Christ we can become complete and at peace with whom we are in Christ. That is the main purpose of the Gospel of Peace! As long as man walks through life thinking that he will always be defective then he can never walk in true peace. Before Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he had peace with himself and peace with God. Please read the chapter “Perfecting of the Saints”.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:9,10 KJV).
If you come to Jesus, He will clothe you with His righteousness so you no longer see your nakedness or shame. Remember that the knowledge of good and evil that brought death to man is a battle of the mind.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV).
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see (Revelation 3:18 KJV).
When our eyes were opened to sin at the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then our eyes to God’s righteousness were closed at the same time. When Adam ate of the tree his eyes were opened and he now had “self-consciences ( self-judgement)” and his “God-consciences (God’s-judgment who created him perfect)” went to sleep. Jesus came and reversed this by awakening us to “God-consciences (access to God)(righteousness)” thru the Holy Spirit and closing our eyes to sin.
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:39-41 KJV).
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:2-4 KJV).
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:20-22 KJV).
The “free moral agent” is still condemning himself today when he judges good and evil with his eyes wide open, as he is still standing in the shoes of God. There is also a difference between judging evil (Jesus job) and discerning evil (our job).
But strong meat belongeth to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14 KJV).
The Bible does allow the Christian to judge, but only after the cross (1 Corinthians 2:15), because the true Christian that has felt the mercy and grace of God in their lives because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:32) can now share something that judgment by the law could never allow a sinner as the Pharisees proved. MERCY! Because of the cross, now we are free to share that same love and forgiveness, even to our enemies!
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:44 KJV).
Also King Solomon, who had all the laws of Moses to judge the children of Israel by, prayed for discernment of good and evil, instead of assuming judgment by knowledge of the law, which also pleased God!
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing (1 Kings 3:9,10 KJV).
This then brings up another question. If man then acquired the knowledge of good and evil (morals) by disobedience to God, whom does it rightfully belong to? Jesus said,
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (John 5:22 KJV).
If judgment is not rightfully ours, but it belongs to Jesus Christ the Son of God, then can Jesus shut our eyes that Adam opened to self-judgment and give the judgment of our lives back to Jesus where it belongs to avoid a greater judgment (Revelation 20:11)? Can we then fall into the hands of a living God and rely on His mercy? Can we then trust God to protect us from evil?
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV).
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:9 KJV).
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her (Genesis 20:6 KJV).
Because of Adam’s disobedience, man is now stuck with the knowledge of good and evil, but what if Jesus could sit down in the judgment seat in the Christians life where He belongs?
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:39-41 KJV).
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God (1 Corinthians 4:2-5 KJV).
The Christian today can discern good and evil, without judging that person.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16 KJV).
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (Galatians 6:1 KJV).
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2:22-26 KJV).
Many religious people today are judging and condemning mankind and themselves with their eyes wide open, while they continue to eat of the knowledge of good and evil that God had forbidden man to eat from. They are declaring themselves wise, just like Satan told Eve she would be if she ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4,5 KJV).
This is why Jesus called the Pharisees serpents and vipers, and told them they were of their father the devil! The apostles even rebuked them for this!
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region (Acts 13:46-49 KJV).
Point to Ponder: When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He called them serpents and vipers and said their father was the devil.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:33 KJV)?
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44 KJV).
If Jesus said that the Pharisees had the devil as their father, what was their similarity? The Pharisees and Lucifer both wore the same clothes! They both wore the breastplate of judgment!
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire (Ezekiel 28:13,14 KJV).
And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings (Exodus 28:15-20 KJV).
Remember that the serpent in the Garden of Eden didn’t “crawl on his belly” till after God cursed him for deceiving Eve (Genesis 3:14). Please read the chapter “Who is the Antichrist” for a deeper study.
The Christian wears the “breastplate of righteousness” by faith as part of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:14) instead of the “breastplate of judgment” that the Pharisees wore that were condemning the Christians. How can you judge yourself unrighteous and wear the breastplate of righteousness at the same time? Remember that the breastplate of righteousness that the Christian wears is not our righteousness through obedience to the law, but God’s righteousness given to us as an eternal gift for our faith in Jesus. It is the judgment of the Lord on our life that the Christian trusts in now.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:1-4 KJV).
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:39-41 KJV).
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22 KJV).
Who do you want in the judgment seat of your life, the law of Moses, the Pharisees (religion), your cell / small group leader, your conscience, or Jesus Christ? After the mercy that Jesus showed me, I never want to sit under the judgment of anyone else but Jesus Christ! If I have done well, I embrace His blessing, if I have done bad, then I embrace His chastening (not condemnation Romans 8:1). Jesus’ judgment of my life takes precedence over my judgment of my life.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:3-11 KJV).
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:45,46 KJV).
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:21 KJV).
The Pharisees even taught “righteousness by works” in the synagogues. If they trust in their works, instead of Jesus, to become righteous before God, then they will be judged by those very same works at the last day.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works (Revelation 20:11-13 KJV).
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV).
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:8,9 KJV).
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee (Revelation 3:9 KJV).
Jesus even referred to the synagogues of the Pharisees as “their synagogues”.
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: (Matthew 12:9 KJV).
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works (Matthew 13:54 KJV).
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: (Matthew 23:34 KJV).
As we just read, Paul knew the true freedom when he quit judging himself and surrendered to the judgment of Jesus! I also found this great liberty, mercy, and true freedom by surrendering the judgment of my life back to Jesus and I believe you will also. The “good news” of the gospel is that the one (Jesus) who has been given the right to judge you and condemn you for your sin, actually took your judgment for you! I just don’t see how someone can reject that great of a blessed assurance, but sadly people still do. Doesn’t this next verse just make you want to shout, “Hallelujah”!!
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath THROUGH HIM. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement (Romans 5:8-11 KJV).
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33,34 KJV).
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not my ownself. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:2-4 KJV).
As Paul plainly taught in this verse (1 Corinthians 4:2-4), he was experiencing the Lord’s judgment already, before his physical death, which may again shine some more light when connected to the verse (Hebrews 9:27) and (Galatians 2:20).
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV).
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who LOVED me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
Coincidentally, many times the first part of this verse (1 Corinthians 4:2-4) is quoted, “ Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” to try and condemn other Christians for not doing enough works for God, which is actually the exact opposite of the context that Paul was speaking in! And which is totally against other scriptures that also show that they do not have that authority.
Who art though that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand (Romans 14:4 KJV).
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33,34 KJV).
Now I want to address what I believe that is another error in the way communion is taught in the church today which ties in with what we just read. It is the embracing of 1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged as the Christians appropriate course of action before taking communion. This will shock most “Christian” religions but actually the correct verse for the Christian to embrace when taking communion is the one that everyone fears the most, 1 Corinthians 11:32 KJV! But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
I have one question? Why do so many Christians fear the chastening of the Lord? It sure beats “condemnation with the world”! It is only through chastening by the Lord that you are ever going to grow into a mature Christian! I want to show you something beautiful in scripture that you may have forgotten.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he recieveth. But if ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV).
The true Christian relationship is a Father / son or daughter relationship with God. A true Christian is a child of God by the “spiritual newbirth” (born of the Spirit) not earned and kept through perpetual obedience. The obedience that you seek will come through your heavenly Fathers’ chastening as a result of the “spiritual newbirth”! The divine order is to first become sons and daughters, and then receiving correction, instead of rejection, by our new heavenly Father. You have to first have a Heavenly Father to be corrected by a Heavenly Father!
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV).
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:8,9 KJV).
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).
Let me explain further. If you are the parent of a child, that child is yours by birth or adoption. Many people in the church today still wrestle with the idea that if they are disobedient, then they are no longer children of God. Please read Hebrews chapter 12. These selections of verses plainly teach that sons and daughters of God can be disobedient and still be sons and daughters! The main thing that is changed by the “spiritual newbirth” is how God deals with your disobedience. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you on the cross, God no longer condemns you or even imputes sin to you (1 John 3:1-10). Condemnation is cast out (Romans 8:1), and chastening is brought in! Now God corrects His children out of love for them, instead of condemnation of them!
There are many stories in the Bible about people God made a covenant with that really messed up and still God used them to accomplish His purpose. Abraham and Sarah (child through Hagar), Moses (killing the Egyptian), David (relationship with Bathsheba), and Solomon (worshipping idols). These stories as well as many others stand in contradiction to the “God is looking for a few good men” doctrine that many preachers preach today.
On the contrary these stories show that God can and will use anybody He chooses to accomplish His purpose even if they mess up. From the time Peter was called by Jesus to be a disciple, he was possessed by Satan (Matthew 16:23), rejected Jesus three times (Mark 14:72), and even after Pentecost, Paul rebuked him for not walking uprightly according to the gospel (Galatians 2:11)! Even after all this, God still used Peter to raise Tabitha from the dead!
Try surrendering yourself and your actions to the judgment of your Heavenly Father. Sure it doesn’t feel good to be chastened by the Lord, but Paul and I both found out, it does have some advantages over self-judgment.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grienous: nevertheless afterward it yeildeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are excersised thereby (Hebrews 12:11 KJV).
From my experience if you totally surrender your heart, Jesus didn’t come to destroy your life, but to SAVE IT! Jesus came that you may have life first, and that more abundantly. Jesus actually saves you from your self (condemnation). Therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). The Gospel of peace is two fold. Through Jesus we have peace with God and peace with ourselves. Jesus will not condemn you if you come to Him; in fact He died for you even knowing you were a sinner!
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:33,34 KJV).
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 KJV).
By these verses you can see that your eternal salvation is not dependant on you, but on God’s faithfulness to grant the intercession request of His Son Jesus Christ for you! Even when Jesus was being crucified by the Romans, He prayed to the Father to “forgive them for they know not what they do”. I am quite certain the Roman soldiers knew that they were planning to try and kill Jesus with the crucifixion.
I want to expound further on a beautiful story in the Bible of how Jesus addresses the sinner today. The way Jesus deals with sin is played out in the story of the woman caught in adultery and also shows beautifully the difference between law and grace. The law always condemned the sinner with the sin because the two were connected, and the religious people wanted to stone her for adultery.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (John 8:3-5 KJV).
What the woman found out next was the “GOOD NEWS” of the gospel, that Jesus condemned the sin without condemning the sinner! That same forgiveness is still open to any man or woman that is in sin today.
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:6-11 KJV)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:1-3 KJV).
Christ condemned sin “in the flesh”, but the Christian is “in the Spirit”. The connection between the sin and the sinner is broken through Jesus Christ and the spiritual newbirth! This story also shows how the conviction of sin and the resulting condemnation came not from Jesus, but from their own conscience (self-condemnation).
There are some churches today that have even split over member-to-member relationship issues and have taken the Gospel one step further and are declaring that Jesus embraced the sin with the sinner. Jesus did not do this, as we can see when Jesus told the woman go and sin no more. Jesus called the sin, sin. He forgives it (1 John 1:9) and then corrects it through the power of the Holy Spirit. If there is no correction from a heavenly Father and they continue in that behavior as we just studied, then the Bible calls those people reprobates (Romans 1:28 KJV).
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13 KJV).
Do you need spiritual healing? You can stand naked before your family doctor without shame, why can’t you stand before the Great Physician without shame with your heart naked? How can you be healed if you are hiding from the physician (Jesus)?
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13 KJV).
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:21,22 KJV).
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them (Acts 28:27 KJV).
Quit hiding behind the tree in the garden and trying to play God through judgment. If you continue to judge yourself and others by the law, then God doesn’t have to judge you because you have already condemned yourself with the world, which is the very definition of a heretick!
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:10,11 KJV).
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 KJV).
Under the law even today, the whole world is guilty of sin and sentenced to death, but if you surrender to the judgment of your Heavenly Father then He will chasten and correct you out of love, but because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you, God will never condemn you with the world (Romans 8:1). The Bible says it is the “goodness of God”, not the “wrath of God” that leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4). This is the Good News of the Gospel.
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